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Riverina drying as Brinkworth mob hits home stretch

The lead cattle in the Brinkworth mob are expected to arrive at Uardry in the western Riverina by the end of the year.

Sarina Locke

A feed shortage could force the Brinkworth mob of cattle off the Riverina's travelling stock routes, before they reach their final destination near Hay.

About 18,000 head of cattle have spent the last six months on the road travelling from south-west Queensland towards Uardry in southern NSW, owned by South Australian grazier Tom Brinkworth.

Peter O'Shannassy, ranger with the Riverina Livestock Health and Pest Authority, says it's trying to find the best path for the cattle, but admits it's getting dry.

"If the Hay district continues to go down on feed availability, then I expect a lot of the routes will shut down, regardless of whether the Brinkworth mob is coming south or not.

"If that happens and the routes close, they will be closed because of a lack of feed."

Mobs of cattle have reached Hillston on the northern Riverina fringe, but some cattle are still at Condobolin in the central west and another large mob has been left behind in Moree in the state's north-west.

Head drover Bill Little says he expects the first mobs to reach Uardry by the end of the year.